I had so much fun reading this book until 70 something percent. It started to drag. I skipped a couple chapters and read the end. The beginning really hooked me. The heroine is an athlete. That’s not something that is totally common. The hero is a sports agent. I loved seeing his relationship with his sister and clients. I loved many of the secondary characters. They had such great personalities. Up until that point, I was having a good time. Maybe it has more to do with me than the book.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

Kickin' It was a great read. I loved it alot! I loved Matt and Parker. I loved their chemistry, connection and banter. They were just perfect together! I also really loved Willow, Jagger and Slade! Definitely recommend this!

This was one of those novels that Rachel is known for. There were moments when you found yourself laughing out loud, there were moments when a scene just resonates with you, and there were moments when you just scratched your head and went "well that was easy".

I enjoyed seeing Matt again as he was one of my favorites from the first novel. Even Jagger seemed to come across as less of a jerk than he did before (although that could have something to do with the fact that he wasn't acting like a dog fighting for a bone in this one). I enjoyed "meeting" Willow and Parker. Willow was a spunky, see what she wants and takes it kind of person. She knew how to stand up to her brother, but she also had the smarts to back it up. Parker was .... an interesting contradiction. On one hand she has this reputation that proceeds her. She was caught in a scandal of her own making - but it wasn't without justification. However instead of meeting her demons head on and dealing with them, she uses that 'hot tempered' persona to hide.

Once the truth comes out (and honestly it was pretty easy to spot head on what that truth was), there was a huge potential for her to stand up and make a difference. And yet, before it came to that, there was a plot twist that eliminated the problem for her. To me, that was a bit of a let down as I would have liked to have seen her face off with her demons and have it resolved that way instead of the way it was. I also would have liked to have seen more of a conflict of interest story-line come into play once Matt and Parker began exploring what was between them.

Overall, those who enjoy this author will no doubt enjoy this story. I also believe it will appeal to those who enjoy sports related stories. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I love Kickin' It. The chemistry is sizzing between Parker and Matt. Matt is this amazing agent/ex soccer star. Parker is a soccer star on the rise looking for help to go pro. The dynamic between them is amazing. Matt doesn't let Parker slack in training. You can feel the fight of attraction between them. Parker is amazing with everything she has gone through. You understand her hesitation to come forward about what happened to her. Can i say how much I love Matt's sister Willow and his client Jagger in this. You'll laugh, you'll swoon and you maybe struck in the heart with this one. Kickin' It is such a fantastic read that I couldn't put down. For all you sport romance lovers out there pick this one up.

I absolutely loved Parker and Matt. Some of the interactions between these two and the other characters had me laughing. Then there is Parker's past. It's emotional and something she needs to work through to move on to the future she wants. With all that plus the forbidden romance between Parker and Matt, I didn't want to put it down.

I will start by saying I am a big fan of Rachels work. I have been following her career for some time now. So anytime I get an opportunity to read her books for an honest review I jump on it.
In this story we have Matt and Parker. Matt is a world renowned sports agent and Parker is a girl trying to make her dreams of becoming a Soccer Star a reality. When faced with the opportunity to meet Matt and wow him into becoming her agent, Parker will do just about anything. Having a best friend who also happens to be Matts baby sister also has its perks. With a dark past holding her back Matt and his crew try to push through her walls to get her ready for the team tryouts of her dreams. Only Parker can get Matt to come out of retirement to train her for success. With ups and downs and twists and turns Matt and Parker struggle to make it to the top. Hopefully they can do it and succeed together.
What a story!!!!!!!! I will honestly say this story was slow moving for me. I struggled with it for the first half. I like books that suck you in from the beginning but for some reason I didn't get that with this book. The light hearted banter made me giggle but the juicy meat of it didn't happen until a while into the book. Call me picky but I don't like when a book rushes and I can't stand it when a book moves too slow. However, this does not mean I didn't like this book. Since I was already introduced to the majority of the characters in a previous book I wanted to see what was going to happen. I will say this was not my favorite from Rachel though. To me all her books are obviously worth reading. This one just didn't make the top of my list. Do I want to read the next book in the series? ABSO-FREAKING- LUTELY!!!! I just feel I didn't connect with these characters as I did in her other books. However this is all just personal preference and I would still recommend this series to my friends.

RVD writes characters that I totally fall in love with every single time and each time they became my new faves.

Parker wants to make it on a pro soccer team, but she’s become controversial and is known for her temper. We soon discover that her anger is her shield as she’s keeping secrets and hiding her low self esteem and anxiety due to a event that happened in her final year at college.

Matt is one of the biggest sports agents out there and is also Parker’s best friend’s older brother. Matt ends up agreeing to be not only her agent, but her coach, and that’s when we get to see the sparks fly...anger, frustration and attraction sparks. There’s just enough slow burn to make the inevitable fire that much hotter!

I cheered for Parker when she bravely faced her demons, found her inner strength and became an amazing inspiration. The banter and interactions between all the characters is wildly entertaining! This story is angsty, heartbreaking, funny, sweet, steamy...it had it all!

This was a fun, quick read which was exactly what I needed after reading some action-packed thrillers. The author delivered a book that was equally funny and sexy, but what I was not expecting was the emotional depth of the story and it’s cast of characters. I always love the banter and camaraderie between her characters in all of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for a copy of Rachel Van Dyken's "Kickin' It" in exchange of an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Netgalley. This is the second book of the Red Card series. It is a standalone but you are missing out if you don't read all of this series.
Parker has a dark history and for that reason she doesn't trust anyone. Especially guys of power. She is an up and coming soccer star and just needs to find the right agent. One she can trust.
Matt can't get his sister's best friend off of his mind. There is something about her that draws to him. Something hidden in those sad eyes. Can he be more than just her agent/coach?
I love this series and definitely can't wait for Jagger's book! 5+ ⭐

Kickin' it is a sports game romance about an agent and his newly signed client. It's fun, sexy, angsty and a little dramatic. The plot is captivating with a few secrets and suspense. It's well written and it balances out the emotional part with the funny one. The characters are great in this book as well and their stories are quite surprising. Also, it contains a very important social message. My favorite parts were the whistle moments and the scene between Jagger and Matt. It can be read as a standalone but I would suggest reading the first as well for better understanding the characters. I highly recommend this and I will rate it with 4.5 stars.

THIS FREAKIN' SERIES! I am here for it! Seriously, I love the explosive attraction between characters. Rachel Van Dyken does a wonderful job of creating characters with such realistic depth. They've been through experiences that make them relatable, and just add to their connections. When Matt was introduced in the first book, Risky Play, I fell in love with the dynamic between him, Slade, and Jagger. They are his clients, but also his friends, and they all mess around with each other is the best way. I was pretty excited to get his story in this book. I wasn't expecting his love interest to be so amazing. Parker is determined, smart, and coping in the aftermath of trauma.

I couldn't put this book down. They both have their reasons to hold back, which makes the journey to each other that much better. It's almost like an enemies to lovers story with how hard they go at each other in the beginning. But I think my favorite part is witnessing Matt's fall through all of his actions along the way. I sincerely recommend this series!!!

We first meet Matt in Risky Play. I loved his character. Then add in Parker and you have a hit on your hands. Or a kick, if you will ;) Strong, intriguing characters and storyline. Kept my interest from beginning to end. Would definitely recommend.

4 Stars

I loved Matt and Parker’s story!!

Matt is a top sports agent, he is concentrating on his career and has no time for anyone but his sister and his clients who happen to be his best friends.

Parker has not has the easiest year, she keeps her secrets from everyone but when she meets Matt things start to come out that she doesn’t want to.

Can Matt help Parker beat her demons and get the career she has always dreamed of?

Kickin’ It is a fun, wild, novel about a struggling female football player and an uber rich and successful sports agent that mixes forbidden love with a huge hit of sports romance.

Matt Kingston doesn’t want to help Parker, he doesn’t want to be drawn to her, her gorgeous looks, her crazy talent, or her broken spirit. But he is. Parker doesn’t want to fall for Matt and his charms as she knows all too well what can happen when you relinquish that kind of power to a superior.

Kickin’ It is full of crazy energy and loads of drama. Parker is pretty clearly absolutely broken by past trauma which is apparent from the beginning. They both struggle for a long time with their growing feelings and the result is a hell of a lot of angst. If that’s your jam, you’ll love Kickin’ It. They’re loud, and surrounded by just as loud crazy friends making for a wild and high emotion ride, is it hate, is it love, is it both?

Unfortunately for me angst isn’t totally my jam so whilst I enjoyed the story I did find the craziness a bit hard to deal with by the end of the book. Matt and Parker were pretty level with each other most of the time which was great and enjoyable to read, but when things kicked off (especially as they were getting to know each other) they kicked off. For this reason the side characters also felt pretty one dimensionally crazy loud annoying trope characters for me so that distracted from the main story in my case.

Matt also took so long to clue into the fact that Parker was clearly suffering from a recent traumatic experience and it left me feeling like he was a bit blinded by her looks. Though when he worked it out he was so sweet.

Things came together with both Matt and Parker fighting for each others, happiness and dreams and I loved the resolution to their wild ride of a story.

If you’re one for angst, then high recommendation and even if you aren’t like me I’d still give it a shot! - nice soccer pun for the end there ;).

4.5 Stars for Kickin’ It book 2 in the Red Card Series of stand-alone sports romances.
Matt Kingston successful, high profile sports agent who things he can handle anything well that was before Parker Speedman arrives on his doorstep carrying cookies......
Parker is friends with Matt’s sister Willow and she is in desperate need of a friend as well as a sports agent. She is young and talented so why are all the woman’s soccer teams having to bribed to consider letting her try out for them........
Matt is convinced to take on Parker by his sister who also manages to convince him into letting her move in with them, that was the first mistake agreeing to let this gorgeous woman live under the same roof maybe training her daily will burn off all this sexual tension and that was the second mistake. Parker should be off limits she is my client and my little sisters best friend.............
The banter between all of the characters have me laughing out loud, the chemistry is sizzling, the hero is swoon worthy and the heroine is a sassy strong woman who is also vulnerable once you get to know her. Kickin’ It has the perfect mix of love, passion, humour and secrets and I’m sure it’s a book any romance lover will want to read.

Rachel Van Dyken continues her Red Card series with Kickin’ It, this time turning her attention to Matt Kingston, doting big brother, former professional soccer player, currently the best sports agent in America.

When his sister unexpectedly moves in with her best friend, he never expected he’d also become Parker Speedman’s agent, coach, and mentor. Which shouldn’t be a problem since she is incredibly talented. But she’s also too young, too beautiful and too angry. Besides being his client, Matt knows Parker is vulnerable, won’t trust easily and has had a rough year. Crossing lines is off limits for both of them, but the attraction between is just too powerful to ignore.

As is with all of the Rachel Van Dyken books I’ve read so far, Kickin’ It was a fun and gratifying read with a wonderful mix of sizzling chemistry that fuels the back and forth between the characters, poignant instances in which the reader can sympathize with the heroine, and emotional moments that move the romance forward. I enjoyed this witty, steamy story very much and can’t wait to read more.

Both Matt and Parker are wonderful characters. I loved how even though they were attracted from the moment the laid eyes on each other Matt refused to let her down and was genuinely concerned about her wellbeing in thus fought their attraction tooth and nail which was fun to experience. Parker was resilient and strong and she loved to push Matt’s buttons. Together they made an unlikely but perfect couple.

Adding another delightful layer to the story are the secondary characters, in particular Matt’s little sister and Jagger one of his clients who I hope get their own book or novella. They added hilarity while helping Matt and Parker’s romance move in the right direction.

Kickin’ It is book #2 of the Red Card series by Rachel Van Dyken. It is a sweet, fun and sexy forbidden, sports romance told from both points of view, and has a happy ending.

Amazing book! I so appreciated that the lead female protagonist, Parker Speedman, is a badd ass soccer player and professional athlete. This is a refreshing career., She gets dealt a bad hand and is treated horribly by a former coach but she doesn't let it stop her from living her best life, moving on, and fining love. Besides the swoony romance that has high and low places, this book is very funny and the dialogue is sharp. I love that Van Dyken brings back the characters from the first book in the Red Card series. I am excited to see more developments in these characters' lives. One note, is that some parts felt like insta live. The lead male protagonist, Matt Kingston, who is her sports agent, kind of treats Parker like a special snowflake and that there is no other woman like her, and I don't find this viewpoint particularly realistic or enthralling. Especially since he has no major relationship before her. Other than that, this book soars like a soccer ball and delivers all the feels to the goal!

I loved this story. Parker grew so much when she opened up. Watching her story unfold and her courage grow was inspiring. Matt was the best person to guide her through what was going on. It helped that Jagger understood and was on her side. The chemistry and banter between Matt and Parker was hot. Such a great story about growth and having the courage to do the right thing.

This was a great sports romance! Usually the guy is the athlete and the girl does something else, so I loved that Parker was the soccer player and Matt was her agent. There was also a darker plot dealing with authorities in the sports world, coaches, doctors, etc. abusing girl athletes and the need to stand up and say something.
I really enjoyed reading this and it flew by. Parker and Matt had good chemistry and watching them dance around each other was fun. The side characters were great too, especially Willow and Jagger. I definitely need to read the first one and I hope there will be more books in the series!

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have yet to read an RVD book that I didn't like. I sped through this one so fast, and I loved every second of it. Parker and Matt are awesome main characters, and I really liked getting to know them.

Parker has been through some things in her past that no woman should have to experience, and once she finally lets it out, to Matt of all people, who she hates at the start, things start to progress and she starts making some headway.

Matt himself is a pretty serious character, but with Parker he shows all his different sides. He's pretty damn sweet, and Parker is one lucky girl to have him. And I should say, Willow is too, to have him as her brother.

Willow is a pretty funny secondary character, and Jagger and Slade are back too which makes for some funny moments all around.

I loved how RVD wrote this, and how she dealt with everything that was happening and had happened in the past. She tackles the issues really well, and still manages to keep it as a fun and unputdownable romance. Can't wait to see whats next.


** Will post on Amazon on release day**